Edge-finishing machine for shoe uppers



April 1', '1924. 1,488,959

L. c. TOWLE ET AL EDGE FINISHING MACHINE FOR SHOE UPPERS Fil l 5. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 [212162215711 Lee C. Tau/2e QZberi'QfibsZmrz April '1 1924.

Y 1,488,959 c. TQWLE ET AL EDGE FINI SHINQ MACHINEFOR SHOE UPPERS Filed April 3, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 1, 1924.

. L. C. TOWLE ET AL.

EDGE FINISHING MACHINE FOR SHOE UPPERS 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l izveizibm Lee CJbu/Ze Filed April 5.

April-1, 1924- *3 Q & w \& IMT wm Filed April 5 1923 L C TOWLE ET AL EDGE FINISHING MACHINE FOR SHOE UPPERS RN NM m Nw L .3 i

Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE G. TOWLE, OF BROCKTON, ALBERT C. EASTMAN, OF SOUTH EASTON', MASSA- GHUSETTS, ASS'IGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES A. EATON COMPANY, OF BROCK- i TON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPCRATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

EDGE-FINISHING MACHINE FOR SHOE UPPER-S.

Application filed April 3, 1923. Serial No. 629,591.

To a]! whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEE C. Towns and ALBERT C. EASTMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Brockton and South Easton, in the counties of Plymouth and Bristol, respectively, and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Edge-Finishing Machines for Shoe Uppers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a machineedapted especially to compact, burnish and finish the raw edge of a facing stri'), constituting an element of a shoe up per, the facing strip being an' inner ele ment stitched to the outer element of the upper, and usually of leather, presenting a raw edge, formed by cutting the strip from a leather sheet.

.he invention is embodied in the improve ments hereinafter described and claimed, in amachine adapted to finish said raw edge after the attachment of the strip on which it is formed, to the outer element of a shoe upper.

Of the accompanying; drawings forming a partof this specification,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a finishing machine embodying the invention.

Figure 1* is a section on line 1 of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a side view of a portion of a shoe upper, showing the facing strip applied to the burnishing tool hereinafter described.

Figure 4 is a section on line f of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, showing the 0 bed-plate of the machine raised from the SuppOlting base, to expose the mechanism under the bed-plate. 1

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 2. 46 Figure 7 is a section online -77 of Fie'ure 6. 1'

Figure 8 is a section on line- S-8 of Figure 6. I Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing a portion of the shaft which reciprocates the burnishing tool. carrier heremafter described.

Figure 11 is an edge view, showing aportlon of the burnishing tool on an enlarged scale.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The bed-plate 12 of the machine is supported horizontally by a base 13, preferably formed as a box or casing, adapted to contain the mechanism hereinafter described,

supported by and projecting downward from the bed-plate. The base may be bolted '17, to which power may be applied by a belt running on a pulley 18. The shaft 17 may be additionally supported by a bearing 19, movable endwise-in a bracket 20, fixed to the base. The bearing 19 is secured to the .bracketbya set-screw 21, and is moved to r the full line position (Figure 5) to permit the bed-plate to be swung upwarchand to the dotted line position, to receive the outer end of the shaft 17. when the bed-plate is in its operative position.

Fixed to the inner end of the drivingshaft is. a bevel pinion, or small gear 22, engaging a larger horizontal bevel gear 23, which is mounted to rotate on a vertical stud 24, fixed to, and projecting downward from the bed-plate. A. worm 25 on the central portion or hub of the gear 23, meshes with a worm gear 26, fixed to an intermediate shaft 27, which is parallel with the driving-shaft, and journaled in bearings 28, fixed to the under side of the bed-plate.

Fixed to the intermediate shaft 27 is a Q'ear 29, meshing with a gear 30, which is fixed to a feed vheel-carrying shaft 31. A feed wheel 32-,having a milled periphery, is fixed to the shaft 31. its upperportion projecting through a slot in the bed-plate snfiiciently to engage the under side of a piece of work laid on the bed-plate, the projecting portion of the feed wheel being in close proximitytothe reciprocating burni-shing'tool hereinafter described. The feed wheel vertically adjustable, to vary its-projection above the bed-plate.

in accordance. with the thickness of the work. To this end the shaft 31 is ournaled in a bearing block (Figure 6), having inclined upper and lower sides, which are slidable between inclined guide faces 34, forming the upper and lower sides of an inclined guide, extending through a fixed block The bearing block hasa horizontal bore 37, in which the shaft 31 is journaled, and is movable endwise in the inclined guide, to raise and lower the shaft and feed wheel.

The bearing block has a tapped orifice 38, parallel with the bore 37, and with this orifice is engaged a horizontal feed screw 39, the rotation of which moves the bearing block endwise. The feed screw is formed on a spindle 40, having a peripheral groove 1, engaged with the opposite edges of a slot 42, in an ear or bracket 43, which is fixed to the bed-plate. When the spindle 40 is rotated by a knob 44 thereon, the feed screw 39 raises or lowers the block 33, the spindle rising or falling'at the same time in the slot 42, and being prevented from moving endwise'by the engagement of the groove 41 with the edges of the slot.

45 represents a burnishing toolhaving a slightly grooved, rounded burnishing end face 46 (F igures 3, 4 and 11), adapted to compact and finish the raw edge of a facing piece or strip 47, attached to a portion of ashoe upper 48.

The burnishing tool is preferably of brass, and is fixed, as by screws 49, to a'horizontally reciprocating block or carrier 50. (F igure 9). Said carrier is rapidly rec-iprocated horizontally in an. opening 51, in the bedplate, between guides 52 and 53, fixed to the bed-plate. The carrier is reciprocated by an eccentric wrist-pin 54, entering a slot 55 in the carrier, and formed on one end of a carrier operating shaft 56, which is journaled in fixed bearings 57 on and below the bed-plate. The wrist-pin 54 is eccentric to the axis of the shaft 56, so that the wristpin has an orbital movement, causing a reciprocating movement of the carrier and the burnishing tool.

The shaft 56 is provided with a pinion 58, meshing with a gear 59, fixed to the driving-shaft 17, the arrangement being such that the shaft 56 is driven more rapidly than the shaft 17.

60 represents a bent arm or goose-neck, fixed to, and overhanging a portion of the bed-plate 12. A-presser bar 61. carrying a wheel presser 62 is vertically movable in a guide 63, on the goose-neck, and is normally pressed downward by a spring 64. The presser 62 is immediately over the feed wheel 32. and presses the work against the latter. The presser bar may be raised to release the work, by a treadle (not shown) connected with the presser bar by a rod 65. a lever 66, pivoted at 67 to the goose-neck, and

a pin 68 (Figure 7), fixed to the presser bar, and bearing on one arm of the lever.

The goose-neck is provided with a vertical guide 69, in which a slide 70 is vertically movable by an adjusting screw 71, journaled to rotate without endwise movement in the goose-neck, the threaded portion of said screw being engaged with a tapped orifice 72, in the slide 70, as shown by Figure 6. The lower end of the slide 70 is slotted to form jaws 73 (Figure 1 which are grooved to receive a frictional heating member 74, bearing on the upper surface of the burnishing tool 45. The jaws 73 are clamped on the member 74, by a screw 75. Said member is of relatively frictionless material, such as wood impregnated with oil, so that it does not appreciably wear away the burnishing tool.

The feed screw 71 is provided above the goose-neck with a knob 7 6, whereby it may be rotated to compensate for wear of the member 74, and is prevented from moving endwise by a collar 71", engaging a. groove in the goose-neck.

The work is laid on the bed-plate 12, with the raw edge of the facing strip 47 contacting with the burnishing tool, as shown by Figure 4, the presser 62 being raised. The presser is then depressed, and the machine is started. The operator guides the work to maintain the edge of 47 in contact with the burnishing tool, which compacts, burnishes, and finishes the edge. When the entire edge has been finished, the operator raises the presser and removes the work.

The bevel gears 22 and 23, the worm 25, the worm gear 26, the intermediate shaft 27, and the gears 2-9 and 30, constitute an embodiment of reducing gearing whereby a suitably slow rotation is imparted to the feed shaft 3.1 from the driving shaft. The gears 58 and 59 constitute an embodiment of multiplying gearing whereby a suitably rapid rotation is imparted to the carrieroperating shaft 56 from the driving shaft.

The several shafts are substantially parallel with each other and with the bed plate 12, and the larger gear 23 is in a plane substantially parallel with the bed plate, so that the mechanism is very compact and occupies but little vertical space, as shown by Figure 6.

The lower end of the member 74 is constantly maintained in frictional contact with the burnishing tool, so that sufficient friction is developed to properly heat thetool.

\Ve claim: 7 r

1. An edge-finishing machine comprising a bed plate. a feed-wheel shaft journaled be low the bed plate and provided with a feed wheel projecting into an opening in the bed plate, a too-l carrier movable in a path beside the feed wheel and provided with a burnishing tool, a driving-shaftjournaled below the bed plate, reducing gearing connecting the driving shaft with the feedwheel shaft, a carrier-operating shaft journaled below the bed plate, carrier-reciprocating connections between the carrier-operating shaft and the carrier, and multiplying gearing connecting the carrier-operating shaft with the driving shaft, the several shaft-s being substantially parallel with each other and with the bed plate.

2. An edge-finishing machine substantially as specified by claim 1, said reducing gearing including a. small bevel gear on the driving shaft, a larger bevel gear mounted to rotate on a vertical axis below said bedplate and meshing with said smaller gear, a worm fixed to the center of said larger gear, an intermediate shaft journaled below the bed plate, a worm gear fixed to the intermediate shaft and meshing with said worm, and gears connecting the intermediate shaft with the feed wheel shaft, said larger gear being in a plane substantially parallel with the bed-plate.

3. An edge-finishing machine substantially as specified by claim 1, said multiplying gearing including a larger gear fixed to the driving-shaft and a smaller gear fixed to the carrier-operating shaft and meshing with said larger gear.

4. An edge-finishing machine substantially as specified by claim 1, the said carrier-reciprocating connections including an eccentric wrist-pin fixed to the said carrieroperating shaft and revoluble in a slot in the said carrier.

5. An edge-finishing machine comprising a bed-plate, a positive feeding member movable in an opening in the bed-plate, a. presser above and cooperating with the feeding member, a burnishing tool movable in a path beside the feeding member, a driving-shaft, intermediate mechanism connecting the dlriving-shaft with the feeding member and the burnishing tool, and including means for imparting a relatively slow movement to the feeding member, and a relatively rapid movement to the burnishing tool, a goose-neck attached to said bed-plate, a slide vertically movable in a guide in the goose-neck, and provided with clamping means at its lower end, a frictional heating member detaehably secured to the slide by said clamping means and bearing on the said burnishing tool, an adjusting screw engaged with a tapped orifioe in the slide, and having an operating knob projecting above the goose-neck, and means on the adjusting screw and gooseneck permitting rotation, and preventing endwise movement of the screw.

6. An edge-finishing machine, comprising a bed-plate, a horizontal driving-shaft journaled below the bed-plate, a bevel-gear mounted to rotate on a vertical axis below the bed-plate, and meshing with a bevel gear on the driving-shaft, a worm fixed to the center of said gear, a feed wheel-carrying shaft journaled below the bed-plate, a feed wheel fixed to said shaft and projecting into an opening in thebed-plate, torque-transmitting connections between said worm and the wheel-carrying shaft, a tool carrier horizontally reciproeable in the bed-plate, and provided with a slot, a burnishing tool, fixed to said carrier above the bed-plate and be side the feed wheel, and a carrier-reciproeating shaft journaled below the bed-plate and geared to the driving-shaft, said shaft having an eccentric wrist-pin entering the carrier slot.

7. An edge-finishing machine comprising a bed-plate, a positive feeding member movable in an opening in the bed-plate, a. presser above and cooperating with the feeding member, a b-urnishing tool movable in a path beside the feeding member, driving-shaft, and intermediate mechanism connecting the driving-shaft with the feeding member and the burnishing tool, and including means for imparting a relatively slow movement to the feeding member, and a relatively rapid movement to the burnishing tool, the said feeding member being a rotary wheel, and said intermediate mechanism including a shaft carrying said wheel, and torque-transmitting connections between the wheelcarrying shaft and the said driving-shaft, the machine comprising also means for vertically adjusting the wheel-carrying shaft and the feed wheel, said means including a fixed inclined guide below the bed-plate, a

movable bearing for the wheel-carrying shaft having inclined faces. an adjusting screw engaged with a tapped orifice in said bearing, and means on the said screw and bed-plate permitting rotation and side-wise movement of the screw, and preventing endwise movement thereof, so that the screw is adapted to raise and lower said bearing.

8. An edge-finishing machine substantially as specified by claim 1, comprising also a goose-neck attached to said bed-plate, a slide vertically movable in a guide in the goose-neck, a frictional heating member detachably secured to said slide, and bearing on the said burnishing tool, an adjustingscrew engaged with a tapped orifice in the slide, and means on the adjusting screw and goose-neck permitting rotation, and preventing endwise movement of the screw.

In testimony whereof we have afiixed our signatures.

LEE C. TOWLE. ALBERT C. EASTMAN. 

